Interlocking-shingle roof



March 9 192s. 1,576,090

S. E. CARPENTER INTERLOCKING SHINGLE ROO'F Filed July 25 INVENTOR (hfiRFWE/f Ji'arr 1" AT RNEY I Patented Mar. 9, 1926.

UNITED STATES I 1,576,090- PATENT OFFICE.

SCOTT E. CARPENTER, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

INTERLO CKING-SHINGLE ROOF.

Application filed July 23, 1923. Serial No. 653,198.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SooTT E. CARPENTER,

a citizen of the United States, residing at' Memphis, county-of Shelby, and State of Tennessee, have invented certain. new and useful Improvements in Interlocking- Shingle Roofs, of which the following is a.

full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable anyone skilled in the art to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a roof composed of interlocking tiles or' shingles and to the method of applying the same. It has for of a roof which can be readily and rapidly laid and which will be low in'cost.

In putting shingle roofs on houses, it is the universal custom to nail shingles to nailing strips or purlins at such distance from the lower end of the shingle that the nails holding the shingle down, will be covered by the ends of the next row of shingles. lVhcre wood shingles were used, this was ordinarily a very satisfactory proposition in that the stiffness of the wood held the shingle fiat, though even in that case, if the shingle was improperly cut and laid wrong side up, there was a tendency for g the shingle to curl up at the end.

\Vhen however, the composition shingle made of felt and some bituminous impregnating material with a light coating ordinarily of fine gravel or slate was introduced, the thinness and the flexibility of the shingle accentuated this tendency to curl and also allowed the action of wind blowing under the free edge of the shingle to become a much more serious one. Added to this the purlins in a great many cases were spaced apart and this spacing was often such that it became necessary to drive the nails at an excessive distance from the lower edge of the shingle, thus increasing the tendency toward trouble. It later too, became evi dent that the bituminous shingle could be very advantageously used over an old shingle roof and that a great saving could be secured and a more secure roof be had by leaving on the old shingles and putting the new shingles over the same. In such cases, it was necessary to drive nails through the old shingle into the purlins below and as these purlins were spaced in many cases for a different exposure, of shingle, the question of nail location became an even more serious one. h

It was self-evident therefore, that'some means of holding down the lower end of the shingle must be found, if any success were to be had, especially in this latter type of roof. Many attempts have therefore been.

made to provide a suitable interlocking tile and in carrying these out, metal wires or strips have been placed in one corner of a shingle and the shingle laid in diamond pattern with this wire or metal strip slippednnder the edges of the shingles lying beneath. Similar attempts have also been made, by slitting the edges at one corner of the shingle, and slipping these edges beneath the edges of the underlying shingle. 'In either case, however, it has been found expedient to use a large shingle rather than the smaller shingle formerly used and because of-the nature of the locking device, these roofs have resulted in virtually a single thickness at certainpoints of each tile.

The introduction of the diamond pattern and method of laying these roofs has resulted in great difiiculty in keeping them properly aligned and the method of interlocking used, has failed utterly to assist in so aligning them.

Further objects of my invention, are; to provide a roof having more than a single thickness at every point and generally having a triple thickness; to provide in the shape of the shingle itself, means which will assist in aligning the shingles in the roof and to provide in the shape of the interlocking members, additional means which will aid in, and in fact secure proper alignment,

as well as secure the holding down of the lower edge of the shingle.

I accomplish these objects as will' be more fully hereinafter set out in the drawings, specifications and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1, is a surface view of a portion of a roof being laid with m improved form of shingle showing one o the shingles being slippedinto place.

Fig. 2, is a section through the interlocking shingles and underlying layer of old ShIIl 1% and the underlying purlins taken on t e line HH of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, is a section on the line TII-HI of Figs. 1 and 2, showing the interlocking shingles only.

Fig. 4, is an outline view dn a reduced scale of a single shingle.

Referring now to the drawings, in which reference numerals are used to indicate the various roof members, 1, E2, 3, 4 and 5 are typical shingles. 6 is a half shingle used in starting along one end of the roof, 7

and 8 are bottom or edge starting strips and 9 an underlying edge stri In Fig. 2, 10-10 are the roo purlins and ill, old wooden shingles which in this case, have not been removed and over which, the

- roof has been laid.

' mensions up and down the roof. In such case, shoulders 1 l -2", 3 etc., are cut on opposite sides of each shingle. These shoulders being formed, taking for example atypical shingle (Fig. 4), on each side by cutting inwardly along the lines, a, at right angles to the sides of the shin le; thence cutting out the corners so forme along the lines 15. Additional cuts are made inward at right angles to these new sides along the lines cl, near the lower edge of the shingle so as to leave an uncut center portion or throat 1 of the width approximatelyv equal to the lengths of the two cuts a. In making these cuts it is important that all of them be made symmetrical about an n and down axis and it is preferable that this axis be the up and'down center line of the shingle. A shingle thus formed may be interlocked as are the shingles shown in Fig. 1. It will be seen however, by reference to Fig. 4, that if additional cuts are made along the dotted lines 0 and e, that shingles of the shape of shingle 1, of Fig. 1, will be formed and I prefer in turning out my shingles to so make it that material lying outside of the dotted line 0, of Fig. 4, or the line 1 of Fig. 1 be cut away since the corners would be material which is not held down and would have a tendency to curl. It will also be seen by referring to Fig. 4, that a cut could be made along the dotted line f, instead of the neraoao that a 'll" shaped head comprising projectingtongues V and W symmetrically disposed from each side of the throat Z be formed between the throat and the lower edge of the shingle. "Whereby the lower edge of the T shaped headof the overlying shingle will extend outward and lie beneath and be held down by the adjacent underlying shingles.

Referring now to Fig. 1 in which the shingle 1, is being placed in position over and interlocked with adjoining shingles 2 and 3 which have preferably been placed and nailed down, 12 and 13 indicating nails, the tongue 1 is slipped under the edge 2 of the shingle 2 and the shingle 1 is, moved upward, this tongue sliding under the edge of the shingle 2, until the left hand side of tht throat l comes into the corner 2* of the shoulder on the right-hand side of the shingle 2. The to end of the shingle is then rotated to the left, the tongue 1 being slipped under the right hand edge 3 of the sh ngle 8. This movement is continued until the right hand side of the throat l and the top edge-of the tongue W seats against the shoulder 3 at which time the shingle will occupy a position similar to that occu pied by the shingles 3, 4 and 5 and will have its left hand edge practically against the right hand edge of the shingle 6, though ordinarily a space of to 4 inch is left at these points. When in place the shingle is nailed to the under-lying purlins 10 of Fig. 2, as near the points 14 as can be done con sidering the location of the under-lying purlin. Additional shingles are placed in a similar manner, if the roof is laid from the left. The same method is followed for a roof laid from right to left, except that in such case, the shingle is rotated to the rightinstead of to the left. This description however, is given as an illustration of the easiest methods of laying'but may be varied according to the skill and the wishes of the individual laying the roof, it being essential only that the tongues 1 and 1 in the case of the shingle- 1 be engagetbbeneath the edges 2 and 3 of shingle 2 and 3 and the shingle then be pulled upward to seat against the' shoulders 2 and 3 In starting a roof of this kind, I prefer to use a strip 9, preferably of the same material which is laid with its edge flush along the low r edge III! of the roof, or if desired, slightly overhanging. Over this, I put a regu a strip 7, 8. These starting strips have shoulders 7 Y and 8 .8 identical in spacing with that on the shingles as laid on the roof. If desired, the starting strips 7 and 8 may be replaced by individual shingles of the same width as the shingles 1, 2, 3 etc. It will be seen again by reference to Fig. 1, that the nails 12, 13 through shingle 3 hold that shingle down at a point very close to the shoulders 3 and 3 and that when a tongue 1 is pulled into place, it ie very securely held down by the nail 13 which is closely adj acent to it. The tongue 1" being similarly held down, the lower end of the shingle is locked against curling or otherwise raising With this form of shin le, Iin addition secure speed of laying and accuracy of laying and alignment, since each shingle is automatically ali ned when the tongues thereof come against the shoulder of the under-lying shingle and is automatically spaced when the-shingle is swung against the adjoining shingle on the side; or if not absolutely against'it, in such, close prox imity to it, that the hand guided by the eye, can place it. p

I prefer of col rse to make my shingles of the type shown 1n Fig. 1, but I wish it distinctly understood that I do-not by this, in-

' tend to limit myself to that shape as hereinbefore pointed out.

Should these shingles be of rigid material, they would necessarily be distorted as the flexible shin 'les are distorted in Figs. 2 and 3, in order that the tongues V and W could he slipped under the edges of the ad jacent shingles.

A typical example of one of my shlngles would be a shingle that was 16 inches long from the upper to the lower edge and 12 inches wide. Referring this description to Fig. 1, this shingle 1 would be cut inward along the line 1 at a point 10 inches below the top of the shingle for a distance of 1 inches. The cuts 1 would then be made on each side along lines parallel to the sides of the shingle for a distance of 1 inches. Along the bottom edge cuts 1 would be made on each side approximately 6 inches apart upward at right angles to the bottom for a distance of 1 inches. Diagonal cuts 1. would then be made from the ends of the cuts 1" to the throat 1 thus forming the tongues 1 and 1 extending outward from the throat 1 between the throat and the lower edge of the shingle. Such a shlngle would have a rectangular upper portion, a

r starting tirely in the upper portion of the shingle,.

that the only difference would be that there would be less lap on the shingles and that if this were cut down enough, the number of layers in the roof would be reduced. In other words, the length of the upper portion of the shingle may be reduced to even less than the length of the lower portion. Likewise it will be seen that the width 1 of the tongue may be reduced and similarly the length of the cuts 1 and as has been before stated, the diagonal cut 1 may even be run from the throat 1 directly toward the inner ends of the cuts 1 (as indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 4:). It will readily be seen also that various sizes of shingles may be made and that the ratio of length to width may also be varied. I

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent in the United States is 2- 1. A shingle having a rectangular upper portion, oppositely disposed shoulders extending inward from both sides along the lower edge of said upper section, a symmetrically disposed lower section of less width than said upper portion, a restricted throat near the lower edge thereof symmet rically disposed with reference thereto, said throat and forming the lower edge of said.

shingle, the length of said tongues being equal to their width'whereby when said shingle is asembled with other shingles on a roof the ends of the said tongues of an overlying shingle for their entire depth come beneath and are adapted to be held down by the underlying shingle.

2. A. shingle having an upper portion, oppositely disposed shoulders extending inward from both sides at the lower edge of said upper section and at right angles to the center line thereof, a narrower lower section extending therefrom between parallel lines and thence cut awayalong dlagonal lines extending inward to a restricted throat near the lower edge thereof and symmetrically disposed with reference to said center line, said throat being of a width equal to the'combined widths of the said shoulders, rectangular tongues of width substantially equalto that portion of said lower section are which lies between parallel lines, extending outwardbelow said throat and forming the lower edge of said shingle .whereby when said shingle is assembled in a roof with other similar shingles, said rectangular tongues will be entirely covered and held down by adjacent underlying shingles.

3. A shingle having an upper portion, op-

positely disposed shoulders extending 1n' section lying between said throat and said upper portion cut along lines extending diagonally upward and'outward from, said throat to lines extending downward from said upper portion parallel to the center line, at the inner edges of said shoulders.

4. A shingle having an upper portion, oppositely disposed shoulders extending inward from both sides along the lower edge of said upper section and at right angles to the center line thereof, a. restricted throat near the lower edge of said shingle symmetrically disposed relative to said center line,.

a section lying between said throat and said upper portion out along lines extending diagonally upward and outward from saidthroat to linesextending downward from said upper portion parallel to the said center line at the inner edges of said shoulders, and tongues, of a width substantially equal to the length of said parallel lines, extending outward from said throat section and lying between said throat and the lower edge of said shingle.

5.1a roof composed of a plurality of simibrought adjacent to and in line with each 7, other, a rectangular pocket is formed which is -adapted to receive the'throat of an overlying shingle and permit the tongues thereof to be slipped beneath the edges of and to be entirely covered by the underlying shingles and form an interlock therebetween.

6. A roof composed of a plurality of similar shingles each having symmetrically disposed shoulders extending inward from the edges at right angles to the center line thereof, a throat equal in width to two of said shoulders, adjacent the lower edge of each of the said shingles and symmetricalwith the said center; line and comparatively narrow tongues lying between said throats and the lower edges of the shingles extending laterally from said throats, wherebywhen two shingles are brought adjacent to and in line with each other, a pocket is formed which is adapted to receive the throat of an overlying shingle and permit the tongues thereof to he slipped' beneath the edges of the underlying shingles and form an interlock therebetween,v the length of thefsaid tongues being such that their entire ends come beneath the under-lying shingles,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name.

sco'rr E. CARPENTER. 

